Saturday, November 11, 2017

The book talks about Therapeutic Counseling in India as it is understood, practiced, the difficulties and the many issues and problems faced by therapists.It also talks about few models of counseling, suitable for Indian population. It also views Indian Psychology as it is understood today. ISBN: 9781981243723

Indian psychology as it is understood today is an antiquated blend of philosophy, theology, cosmology, and mythology of ancient Indian civilization. This is similar to the Western psychology in the pre-Wundt era. Western psychology has its origin and linkage to the ancient Greek philosophy of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and in the medieval period adjusted and modified by various other European philosophies and the Christian theology of Aquinas. By establishing the world’s first experimental psychology laboratory at Leipzig, Wilhelm Wundt gave a scientific outlook to psychology in 1879 and liberated it from the clutches of metaphysical assumptions and abstract philosophical speculations. The Russians too had their share with similar scientific endeavors highlighted by the experiments of Ivan Pavlov. These initiatives produced serious, systematic and radical changes in the scope, outlook and the nature of Western psychology which elevated the human behavioral study on par with other empirical sciences. Unfortunately, this has not taken place to this point in the Indian subcontinent.

The problem with many scholars who exert their efforts in defining Indian Psychology today is that they magnify the ancient mystical, mythological and puranic cosmological thoughts and the assorted religiophilosophical systems as glorified psychological thinking rather than giving practical and pragmatic principles guiding to comprehensive theories of human behaviour in accordance with the emerging worldview in the changing society. Therefore, Indian psychology remains today as a primordial, intuitive and unscientific thought pattern of bundled subjective assumptions and metaphysical assertions, eluding concrete empirical investigation.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Psychology is directly related to culture, art, and architecture. Appropriate use of various artistic components such as colour, space and size has the capacity of enlightening the atmosphere.

Architectural Psychology can be described as a branch of environmental or ecological psychology. It is the interaction between human and their environment. This includes spatial perception, orientation behaviour, living requirement and satisfaction. The architecture provides a sense of space and support to all type of human activities if used appropriately and it provides firmness, service, and delight.

Much more than being a part of Environmental psychology to identify space, Architectural Psychology explains the Human Psyche, the Enigma that surrounds it and the Symbols it reflects- argues the author and in the book he gives a new dimension to architectural psychology.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

My first air travel was on an Air-India flight Thiruvanandapuram - Madras, now called Chennai in 1996 March 18. It was an evening flight and I still remember the Ulundu vadai (medu vadai) and coffee served in the flight. The next time I traveled in Air India was in 1996 December, from Hong Kong to Mumbai via Delhi. I really enjoyed this trip more than any other travels in my life. Later in my life, I lost my love for Air India as they are known for cancellation and delays. All the more, my trip from Chennai - Singapore became like a town bus travel in Air India when some fellow passengers demanding drinks and became drunk and talking loudly, noise pollution etc.... My love for Cathay Pacific was lost when I traveled from Hong Kong to Chennai via Bangkok and saw two rude passengers in the flight, one sitting beside me and another in front of me fighting among themselves.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Presented a paper with the former DIG of Prisons Mr.P.Govindarajan at the International Conference on Nurturing Global mental health – aparadigm shift, Amrita University & University at Buffalo, March 8-10, 2017

Abstract:A correctional institution to incarcerate people is indispensable for every social system in the world since crime and criminals are seen in all the cultures in human history. A prison is a place of punishment in which people who violate the law are penalised as per the Indian Penal Code. The history of prison in India and constant changes in various prison conditions reflect the varying social attitude towards crime, prison and prison inmates. NCRB estimates that there are 3,69,00 to 384700 prisoners in India and more than 10 million people all over the world (Jain, 2014). It is a known fact that a prison is a place people least prefers to visit. Life inside a prison is traumatic, stressful and a lot of mental health problems are observed inside the prison (Tosh, 1982; Janetius & Mini, 2013; Bartol & Bartol, 2014). Suicides in prison are also a global phenomenon. In 2014, prisons in England alone had 82 suicides. In India, the average annual death rate inside the prison is 375 but the reported suicide rate is less than 20 percent (Jain, 2014). Although social workers are employed in every prison, a variety of mental health service is offered mainly by social workers, psychologists and other service personnel from NGOs and other institutions in an unorganised way that reduces the stress, depression and other mental health problems of prison inmates. This empirical study describes the situation of prisoners and various causes of mental health problems, with the special reference to suicides, and evaluates the various services offered and explains an Evidence-Based Peer-help counselling Model for suicide prevention in the prison.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

This book primarily deals with three themes which are written at different times of my life: the phenomenon of myth in the holy scriptures, celibacy and Catholic priesthood and the use of psychology in Catholic religious formation. All the themes are reflecting Catholic Christian doctrines. The book also contains few reflections on religion.

The first part of the book which narrates the phenomenon of myth in the New Testament was written when I was fascinated by philosophy, theology, religion, and mysticism. I strongly believe that religious language is mythical, religious practices are culture-specific and claiming this unique cultural concepts and interpretations as universal truth-claims lead to fanaticism. The mythical language of the scriptures creates confusion in the modern mind and it needs reinterpretation for the modern mind to comprehend. Bultmann, the German theologian came with a solution demythologization. I wonder whether he has any followers to adhere his views today.

The second part of the book talks about priestly celibacy in the Catholic Church. My interest in this topic started during my postgraduate studies in the Philippines, at De La Salle University, Manila, where I was introduced to Rev. Kelly, an Irish Catholic Missionary Priest, married to a Filipina and settled in Manila. He invited me few times to the annual convention of the Philippine Federation of Married Catholic Priests (PFMCPI ), held during the holy week, and introduced me to the Married Priests in the Philippines. I attended couple of their annual conventions (at Baybay City–Leyte & General Santos City-Mindanao). This connection made me to explore deep into the concept of Biblical celibacy and canonical mandatory celibacy for Catholic priesthood. Also, I did a research in the unexplored area of married priests in the Philippines.

New Testament which was centered on the historical Jesus of Nazareth and the mythical stories and narrations in the latter years mystified celibacy, even projecting Jesus of Nazareth as a celibate person. The Pauline Gnostic doctrines, as well as the teachings of early church fathers, strengthened this concept in the course of time. Now, an obligatory requirement to serve as a priest in the Catholic Church, giving religious men and women more freedom to commit themselves for the entrusted mission, has become a major hindrance and preoccupation leading to many global sexual scandals.

The third part of the book talks about the use of psychology in the formation of young men and women in the Catholic religious communities of monastic tradition and missionary action. The socialization and human development issues of religious men and women in the Catholic religious formation after the paradigm shift following the Second Vatican Council has changed the meaning and perception of religious life. Men and women following various monastic, evangelical traditions living in the confined comforts, who were secluded at the monasteries and convents, following various pious practices, have started to come out to the streets to serve the needy, both spiritual and material. This gave new orientation, meaning, function to consecrated religious life, changing its goals completely. From an individualistic religious orientation that was anchored on personal attainment of eternal glory, by leading a pious religious life and preparing the lay people for good Christian living (identified as following the norms of the Church) as well as converting people to Christianity (saving pagan souls from entering eternal fires of hell), a social outlook evolved evidently after the Second Vatican Council.

The narrow vision and concept of pre-Second Vatican religious monastic tradition did not give room for serious focus on the human development and psychosocial formation. People did not think about it. The religious, priestly training was completely anchored on controlling the human sexuality in the form of celibacy and, or on the three vows, namely, poverty, chastity and obedience for communal living. The most neglected aspects were continuing human development related to psychosocial and psychosexual issues.

Today, liberated from the traditions and stereotypes of seclusion, the consecrated religious men and women look for more social outreach; sometimes even at the cost of neglecting their religious identity. Instead of confining themselves to the secluded walls of churches, monasteries, and convents, the extended prospect direct the consecrated pious men and women to try a pivotal role in transforming people and society. Thanks to the liberation theology that evolved in Latin America and spread over the developing countries, Catholic religious communities started to focus on the training and formation on psychological, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual wellbeing, to see them as mature and effective individuals, to lead a meaningful life as sanctified people.

As too many sexual scandals looming around the globe, mainly from poor handling of celibate life and living, many priests are battling with legal concerns arising from both true charges as well as fake accusations, the religious communities have taken seriously in their religious formation the human personal, social and sexual development issues that are pertinent to their consecrated life. Psychological screening in selection, renewal programs on adult development and midlife transition issues, lessons on the broader understanding of celibate love, friendship and living, the inclusion of psychology and psychotherapy in ongoing formation, are gaining popularity. These scientific psychotherapeutic interventions are intended to help the candidates to discover their enslaving reactive behavior patterns, which in turn would help them in responding to the demands of authentic religious life, Christian and human living. Mainly, the process of making the unconscious into conscious is often focused in order to attain freedom from the binding factors to attain psycho-spiritual integration.

Besides these three major themes namely, the struggles of Bultmann’s demythologization, the mystified celibacy in Catholic priesthood and, how psychology could be utilized in a healthy way in the Catholic religious communities, the book also has few reflections on various topics related to religion and Christian living with a critical outlook.

While
preparing a syllabus for psychology, seminar was proposed to orient students to
the application of psychology to current social context. Students responded
positively to the themes Art, Culture, Gender and Human Behaviour. They also
identified other adolescent issues like Cyberpsychology and Consumer Behaviour.
This work is the outcome of two seminars organised by the students of
psychology. The papers in the book reflect the changing Indian culture and
modern Indian Psyche in various aspects.

Art,
Culture and Gender issues reflect the human psyche down through the history.
India is a multicultural, tolerant society with its complex traditions, beliefs
and thinking, which is distressed by various socio-political and religious
elements today. However, the glorious India is admired for its tolerance and multiculturalism.
Due to pressure groups and fanatic outfits emerging in the society, India is slowly
losing its original social outlook and tend to move towards a bigoted society.
Multiculturalism is a beauty, as we see different flowers in a garden. The fascist
ideology that is often propagated by fundamentalist groups spoil this beauty of
Indian society. In this regard, India needs some dynamic personalities who can propagate,
educate and inculcate the glorious values of humanism and work for tolerance
and harmony.

I would
like to thank the students Aksa, Alimiyan,
Ann Varsha, Gowthami, Hashir, and Naveen for their efforts taken in this
regard and the other scholars who worked with them in their endeavours to create
an awareness to enlighten the young minds for a better Indian society.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

First-year Psychology students learn about Environmental Psychology. It is taught via Field-based learning.

The students were taken to Topslip Tiger Reserve, stayed overnight there.Mr.Saleem from Environment Conservation Group was the coordinator of the program; together with Dr.Janetius and Mr. Balakumaran (Leadership Trainer) the program was well organised with lots of gamers, leadership training, trekking, safari etc.. etc...Environmental psychologists study the relationship between human behavior and the environment, from both directions - how the environment affects behavior, and how people's behaviors and attitudes affect the environment. Broadly speaking, environmental psychologists study any type of environment, including the "built environment" of homes, offices, and cities. For example, they investigate how spaces affect people, and how to create spaces that are conducive to human well-being. They ask questions like, "How do urban environments influence crime?"

While environmental psychology places more of a focus on the built environment, its two sub-disciplines, conservation psychology and ecopsychology, center on the relationships between people and the natural world. For example, they may study the psychology of climate change, or incentives for changing behaviors that degrades the environment. Each area of study is part of a growing interdisciplinary field bridging the social, life, and environmental sciences including psychology, sociology, geography, architecture, and environmental studies.

What Does an Environmental Psychologist Do?

Environmental psychologists often study how the built or physical environment affects human behavior. They may conduct research on this topic, or apply their knowledge to designing safe and ergonomic spaces that are conducive to emotional well-being, such as colorful, open floor plans.

Conservation psychologists study the development of environmental attitudes. For example, they may investigate the psychology of the valuation of nature - how and why people value nature - to better understand how to foster an environmental ethic. Another research area involves studying behaviors towards nature and natural resources. Psychologists study these behaviors to try to determine how to cultivate sustainable ones. They may also conduct experiments on the restorative effects of nature on the human psyche, such as how spending time outdoors reduces stress or increases concentration.

Ecopsychology is somewhat similar to conservation psychology. But while that sub-field focuses more on changing attitudes and behaviors, ecopsychology places more emphasis on ties between environmental and societal degradation. For example, it also aims to address poverty and inequality. It sees human well-being as integrally tied to environmental well-being, and focuses on healing human society, as well as nature.Ecopsychology areas of study include emotional responses to nature, the impacts of environmental issues such as natural disasters and global climate change, and environmental identity and concern. Ecopsychologists may try to understand transcendent experiences in nature, or use outdoor activities for counseling or therapy.

Psychologist Erikson talks about various psycho-social development in human that affect the growth and development of an individual. The adolescent period, between the ages of approximately 12 to 18 or 21, is a critical period of transition too (Janetius, 2015). Teens need to develop a sense of self and personal identity by exploring their independence and develop a sense of self. Erikson also believes that peers have a strong impact on the development of ego identity during adolescence. He reiterates that association with negative peer groups such as goal-less and aimless youth will hinder the developing ego during this delicate period. Those who emerge from the adolescent stage of personality development with a strong sense of identity are well equipped to face adulthood with confidence and certainty. This is the case study of an adolescent, who refused to write the Higher Secondary Exam.

Abstract: The word entrepreneurship derives from the French word entreprendre, which means, to undertake. Generally, an entrepreneur is a person who initiates a business and runs a business or one who work for himself /herself rather than an employee of another company. An entrepreneur requires capital money for setting up, successful operation, regular up-gradation and modernization of the business. Both the Central and State governments have been taking a number of steps, by formulating various policies and schemes, for the promotion and development of small and medium enterprises. However, no much initiative comes from young adults to become entrepreneurs. It is ideal to conceive such initiatives while young people are at colleges or while they complete their college education.

This study focuses on the various factors that affect the development of entrepreneurship among rural college students. A survey was taken among rural college students in and around Pollachi, to identify the various reasons behind the lack initiatives. Further, the study also evaluates the various initiatives taken by colleges in motivating young rural adults to become entrepreneurs.

Human resources are the people in organizations and human resource management (HRM) is the personnel management with a concept that employees are an asset to the business. Therefore, employees are referred to today as human capital. The effective management of this asset is to do business with an effective use of employees, reducing risk and maximizing outcome. The objective of HRM is responsible for performing the task of achieving the goals and objectives by handling the personnel related aspects of an organization, namely, recruitment, propose rewards and incentives to attract talents, training for performance and professional development, evaluation and appraisal for promotion, payroll management, conflict resolving and maintaining legal issues. The study uses both archival studies and a sample survey to collect data on the current HRM practices. Through archival studies, the study highlights the HRM practices of highly acclaimed organizations around the globe and from the sample survey data, identifies the neglected HRM practices in India.

Organizational DNA (OrgDNA) refers to the vision – mission, culture, structure and functionality of an organization. This gives an organization a unique identity that set apart the organisation from others. Organizations with a sick DNA will have poor concern for its own employees and do not anticipate and adopt innovative changes as per the needs of the time, fail to attract quality stakeholders resulting into high rate of employee attrition, employee dissatisfaction and dropouts. Generally employees assess an organization on the basis of mere sugar-coated vision-mission statement or attractive structures and eye-capturing advertisements realise at a later stage that they feel deceived and misled when they join such organisations. Also, many people don’t care about the OrgDNA and just work for earning money without much commitment and dedication. It is a herculean task for employees to identify quality institutions where professional development and full life-satisfaction could be achieved.

This working paper is a longitudinal qualitative study (since 2014) taken up in South India that primarily examined the OrgDNA of private higher education institutions and recommends a simple modus operandi to identify quality institutions. As a continuation, the study currently works on simple ways of identifying OrgDNA of organisations to restructure organisations, if they need corporate genetherapy.

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‘Right job for the right person’ proposed by the American psychologist Frank Parsons indicates the importance of inborn skills (aptitude) of an individual that plays a vital role in sustaining a career. The clear knowledge of various career options that would suit a person is of vital importance in choosing a job and sustaining a career; it is possible only if a person is aware of his/her aptitude and interest. There are no serious considerations given to the identification of the potency of an individual before entering into a job in the Indian scenario and people often think mistakenly that anyone can do any job without knowing the required skill sets and personal potency to perform that at job. This lack of knowledge about one’s ability to do a job is the main cause of losing potency to work, regular job-hopping, un-employability and even job-satisfaction. This lacuna is prevalent today because people are more dependent on ordinary people rather than psychologists for choosing a career which in turn lead to the shortage of dedicated and committed personnel in a particular job. This case study depicts the background and reasons behind a young rural adult, who shifts his career now and then, and lost his interest and potency to work and the inner struggles to establish his career path.

Psychological tests have become popular after World War Second era was primarily used in clinical setting to diagnose and help clients who come for therapy. Although initially used in Military recruitment, today a increasing number of organizations around the globe rely upon various psychological testing for employee selection, promotion and development. Psychological tests can guide HR Managers in identifying personalities that would fit their company and productive. Psychological testing can very well asses a prospective employee and shed insights into how well a candidate adjust and fits the culture of an organization. However, identifying the unconscious dynamics of a candidate is not very easy. Here the projective tests play a vital role. A projectivetest is a psychological assessment tool that comprises of ambiguous stimuli revealing hidden emotions, motives and inner conflicts of a person. The pros and cons of using projective tests are well explored in therapeutic interventions. However, it is relatively uncharted in Human Resource Field. Testing can be a valuable tool in the hiring process if a right person employs the right tests, to measure the right aspects, at the right time rather than using it to weed out people. This paper sketches out the pros and cons of using various projective tests in various industrial setting to enhance Human Capital Management.